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Posted on Nov 10, 2003, 11 p.m.
By Bill Freeman
It's a well known fact that obese people are more likely to suffer from some form of disability in later life. However, results of a recent study have shown that the increased risk of disability remains even if they manage to get down to a healthy weight. The study of data collected from more than 7,000 people revealed that obese people were twice as likely to develop a lower-body disability and significantly more likely to develop an upper-body disability later on in life.
It's a well known fact that obese people are more likely to suffer from some form of disability in later life. However, results of a recent study have shown that the increased risk of disability remains even if they manage to get down to a healthy weight. The study of data collected from more than 7,000 people revealed that obese people were twice as likely to develop a lower-body disability and significantly more likely to develop an upper-body disability later on in life. Although losing weight did not eliminate the increased risk of disability as results showed that the ex-obese were still more likely to develop a disability than people who had never been obese. Lead author Dr Kenneth Ferraro, said of his findings: "One message is the effects (of obesity) are not totally reversible."
SOURCE/REFERENCE: American Journal of Public Health 2002; 92: 834-840
